DE3101134C2 - Filling machine for conditioning systems for bottles or analog containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The filling machine (1) comprises a hinge mechanism (23) which presses each bottle (5) against the corresponding valve (22) in an inclined position. Aeration and foaming of the liquid are thus reduced; the filling process becomes more stable and the output star wheel (3) can be equipped with a capsule machine (42) for screw caps.

Description

55

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

In filling machines it is known to feed the bottles vertically under the valve. This results however, excessive aeration of the liquid which eo has a tendency to adhere to the entire inner surface of the bottle, making it relatively unstable "Liquid bell" and a source of turbulence, oxidation and foaming. These appearances are particularly annoying for bottles with a large capacity of one liter and more are intended to consume carbonated liquids such as non-alcoholic beverages.

In a known filling machine (DE-OS 22 58 678) that is required for filling the bottles considered inclined position accomplished at the same time with inclined position of the nozzle of the filling machine However, this has the consequence that the introduction and discharge devices for the bottles do not relate to any of the spigot can follow horizontally offset path. However, this causes difficulties where it is important to have a locking device as close as possible of the dispensing area to enable the filled bottle to be closed as soon as possible. This is particularly important for carbonated liquids in order to prevent gas loss up to the seal the bottle to a minimum.

Furthermore, it is necessary in the known filling machine, to support the bottom of the container by means of a plate, or above one for the sealing position to generate the necessary contact pressure between the container mouth and the nozzle stop. At off Bottles made from plastic, however, result in the risk of deformation of the bottom, in particular taking into account a correspondingly strong contact pressure of the bottles in order for the correct To ensure sealing position.

In a further known filling machine (DE-OS 16 07 974) the bottles are inserted into the Filling machine tilted and arrive when it runs out of the bottles from the filling machine in their vertical position. So there are the bottles during the entire revolution around the filling machine in an inclined position, so that they are still inclined when they arrive at the discharge station. This filling machine is thus also subject to the disadvantages discussed above with regard to afflicted with the attachment of a closure device as close as possible to the nozzle.

The object of the invention is to create a filling machine in which the bottles are in the filling position in an inclined position feeding device is designed so that on the one hand a gentle treatment of the Bottles guaranteed and, on the other hand, the closest possible arrangement of closure devices close to the Nozzle is guaranteed to minimize gas losses after filling.

This object is achieved according to the invention by what is contained in the characterizing part of claim 1 Features solved.

The invention is characterized by an articulated arrangement of the feed device, which makes it possible to keep the space above over in the discharge position vertically aligned bottle free or for a bottle if possible use close arrangement of a closure device on the nozzle. This close arrangement offers the advantage that gas losses can be minimized after filling. The gentle treatment of the Bottles results from the fact that, according to the invention, the feed device is designed as a fork. on which the bottle hangs over a bead on the bottle neck, so that the for the sealing position, during the Filling process required contact pressure no longer has to be introduced through the bottom of the bottle.

Expedient developments of the invention are given by the features contained in the subclaims marked.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In it shows

Fi g. 1 is a schematic plan view of a filling machine according to the invention,

F i g. 2 shows a section along line 2-2 of FIG. I,

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3 shows a longitudinal section in a larger representation through a valve,

F i g. 4 shows a vertical section through a detail of the filling machine,

F i g. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the object of FIG. 3,

F i g. 6 schematically the flow of the liquid into the bottle,

7 shows, in perspective, a variant of the joint mechanism of FIG . 4 and 5,

Fi g. 8 the mode of operation of the embodiment variant of F i g. 7, and

F i g. δ schematically shows another embodiment of the Hinge mechanism.

F i g. 1 shows part of a conditioning plant for bottles made of plastic for soft drinks, intended for filling and encapsulating bottles This part of the system essentially consists of a filling machine with a star wheel

zontal. The cannula body 29 also includes a line 31 of very small diameter, the above of the connecting piece 30 is provided and the upper end thereof via a line, not shown, with an interrupter valve connected to the space above the liquid in the liquid reservoir 19 is the lower At the end of the line 31, a removable cannula 32 of a certain length takes on. On the nozzle 30 is an annular sealing set 33 pulled up. In the cannula body 29 there is another in the drawing Line not shown provided for connection to the atmosphere, which is also provided with a shut-off valve Is provided

Each feed device 23 consists of a double-armed L-shaped lever that is at an angle to a horizontal Axle 34 carried by movable support 12 swings

One arm of this lever carries at its end a roller 35 which rests on a fixed circumferential cam 36.

th infeed device 2 and one of which runs out as a star wheel, which is located on the guide pivot pin of the formed discharge device 3. The introduction device 2 carrier 12 is located. This cam:,;. Holds a Bewird fed by a conveyor 4, which feeds empty bottles 5, while the discharge device 3 the

full and closed bottles 5 to a discharge

rich so «mix small radius, which extends between the two star wheels, an area 36 * with a large radius, which extends over almost three quarters of a rotating conveyor 6 Bottles between 36 ^C and e ^{: a} range with a decreasing radius 36 ^rf . the various facilities.

A single bottle 5 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of

Clarity shown; in fact, however, the FIa-

1 a fixed frame 10, 11, which carries a rotatably movable carrier 12 with a vertical axis XX , which is mounted on roller bearings 13,14. The drive of the movable

The other arm of the lever carries one roughly horizontal fork 37 and on the other hand an approximately vertical wall 38 which leads downwards and slightly

5 see each other continuously on the conveyor 4. 30 is concave, for example mi. strong up-how F i g. 2 shows, the filling machine comprises a wider V-cross section

As the F i g. 4 and 5 can be seen, the fork 37 forms a groove with parallel sides and semicircular Floor. Around this is a circular one in the top

chen carrier 12 takes place via a fixed tooth recess 39 incorporated herewith,
wreath 15. This toothed ring contained in the frame 10, 11 Each insertion and removal device 2, 3 comprises a as

is in front of a crack! i6 acted upon, the center formed with a carrier disk 40! with an abfaü reduction gear 17 is connected and takes itself ends edge 41. The rotating shaft for the Abführeinrichein Pinion 18 with, which is firmly connected to the discharge device 3 device 3, above which a capsule is connected is as well as an analog pinion (in the drawing direction 42, which is shown schematically and with unions not shown), which is fixed to the insertion nem locking member 43 at the location of each cell 8 of the dressing 2 is connected. guidance is provided.

In its upper part, the carrier 12 has a wall. The filling machine 1 is intended to carry the bottles

Ncniform liquid storage 19, which is filled via a 5 with a carbonated liquid, oe example-fixed line 20 along the axis XX with liquid 45, as an alcohol-free drink, which is fed via a rotary connection 21 and is located in the liquid storage 19 at a suitable pressure These are large-capacity plastic bottles with a hemispherical bottom. Near their neck they have a bead 44 which is provided 50 over a cylindrical neck 45, the height of which is greater than the thickness of the forks 37.
The working method is as follows.
Each empty bottle 5 arrives at its bead 44 verticaä -uifeihangt and is attached by the conveyor 4 to the opening 25 of the lower wall of the liquid reservoir 55 of the carrier disk of the insertion device 2 in a cell 19 and the lower end of which is beveled 8 is deposited therefrom N ^ ch turning half a turn-an intermediate part of the bore 26 of the housing 24 forms hung roughly the bottle engages in the bottom of the enteine seat for a coaxial valve flap 27, which by speaking gift! 37, which is then horizontal. This controlled a cam ^{, not shown;} st guides the bead 44 above the fork 37 (dash-dotted lines in

On the lower end of the housing 24 is a plane 60 F i g. 4) vertically over the recess 39, and circular base 28 of a cannula body 29, the diameter of which is slightly larger, then moves

th (not shown) organs for controlling the salt flow and regulating the level is. According to a variant, the liquid reservoir 19 can also be fed from above.

each filling station 9 surrounds a valve 22 and an articulated feed device 23.

The valve £ λ (Fig. 3) comprises a tubular vertical housing 24, the upper end of which around an open

which has a connecting piece 30 perpendicular to the base 28 and is offset downwardly with respect to the axis of this base. Compared to the filling machine 1 is the The nozzle 30 is oriented radially and outwards and is downwards at a considerable angle to the vertical, inclined, for example, in the order of 45 ° Its inclined outlet opening is roughly flat and horizontal

the bottle 5 radially outwards in relation to the carrier disk and therefore goes to the edge 41 of the means 40 down what they are in the full lines in Fig. 4 leads, where they at their bead 44 is hung.

The role 35, which previously ^{rolled on the area 36 a of} the cam, goes to the area at this moment

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36 ^C over, which tilts the feed device 23 and leads the neck of the bottle coaxially in tight support against the sealing fitting 33 of the corresponding valve (FIG. 3). This is facilitated by the relatively large diameter of the neck of the plastic bottles.

The following then results thanks to a suitable control device, not shown, for the valves known work sequence:

10

- Compressed air corresponding to the pressure of the memory 19 is introduced into the bottle via the line 31,

- If the pressure equilibrium is established in bottle 5 on the memory 19, the valve flap 27 opens, the liquid flows out and excess air escapes via the line 31 and reaches the memory.

- if the liquid level in the line 3i that When the free level of the storage tank 19 is reached, the flow is interrupted,

- the valve flap 27 closes under the action of its cam,

- The bottle is returned to ambient pressure via the line for connection with the environment.

This sequence of effects takes place during the rolling of the roller 35 on the part 36 * of the cam 36, the shaft of the bottle being supported against the wall 38 of the feed device 23. As soon as it is finished, the roller runs against the sloping ramp 36 ^d , which returns the fork 37 in a horizontal position and the bottle 5 itself in a vertical position. The full bottle 5 goes up on the carrier disk of the discharge device 3, which releases its bead 44 from the recess 39 and is located in a Zeus S of this guide device and is taken along by it. While it is in the discharge device 3, the bottle receives a suitable capsule. to provide resistance to the pressure of the carbonic acid gas, for example a screw cap from the closure member 43 located above it. The released fork 37 moves against the insertion device 2 and takes a new empty bottle 5 on.

During the filling process (FIG. 6), the nozzle 30 is located under the cannula 32. Liquid flows freely downwards and meets the inclined inner wall of the bottle at a low height and forms one more or less compact vein that spreads over a small part of the circumference of the bottle. Ventilation of the liquid is thus minimal; Foaming and oxidation too; the path of the liquid has with respect to that the free end of the cannula 32 has no disruptive effects: that is, no risk of it being enclosed.

Due to the inclination of the nozzle 30 and the bottles 5, the diameter of the liquid reservoir 19 to have a value smaller than the diameter of the circle of displacement of the non-inclined bottles (Fi g. 1) it is the base circle of engagement of the filling machine 1 with the infeed and outfeed device 2 and 3 act This frees up the space above this facility completely; in particular it becomes possible to arrange 3 capsule organs of great height above the discharge device, which in are able to make a pressure-tight closure, especially to set screw caps. So it becomes possible to have each bottle very shortly after completion to close the filling process, which means a minimal pressure loss of carbonic acid gas.

According to the variant of FIG. 7 and 8, the rigid feeder of the articulation mechanism 23 ³ , consisting of the fork 37 and the wall 38, is connected to the movable support 12 by two arms 46 articulated about horizontal parallel axes which are located on the back cables of the wall 38 near each of the upper and lower ones At the end of this. The other end of each link 46 is articulated via an axis 47 at a fixed point on the carrier 12. The two links each carry a roller operated by a cam, not shown, in order to give the bottle the complex movement (combination of two clockwise rotations about two axes 47), as shown schematically in FIG. which then goes through the center of the neck, is shown, whereby the coaxial pushing onto the connecting piece 50 is possible.

In the modified embodiment of FIG. 9, the arrangement 37-38 of the joint mechanism 23 * rests on a second cam 48 by means of a roller 49 and slides in an approximately vertical slide rail 50. This is articulated at its base about a horizontal axis 51 of the carrier 12 and is actuated in its upper part by means of a roller 52 which cooperates with a cam 53. The structure is such that when the bottle 5 hangs on the fork 37, first a tilt a-b, then an upward movement b-c along the axis of the nozzle 30 occurs.

For this purpose 4 sheets of drawings

Claims (5)

31 Ol patent claims: 1. Filling machine for conditioning systems for bottles or similar containers, in particular for receiving carbonated liquids, with at least one valve received by a movable carrier and fed by a liquid reservoir, one that introduces tangentially to the carrier and that transports the bottles in a vertical position up to the vicinity of the valve Device, a device for feeding the bottles in the filling position, in which each bottle is temporarily held inclined by the movable carrier, and a device that removes the bottles tangentially from the carrier, characterized in that the feeding device (23) for the bottles (5) through a hinge mechanism (23a, 23b) is articulated and comprises a fork (37) secured by a fixed cam for suspending the bottle (5) on a bead {44} of its neck, the fork being fixed to a wall (38) of the lateral support for the bottle body is connected. 2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the fork (37) is circular Recess (39) for positioning the bead (44) comprises, and that the insertion (2) and removal device (3) comprise means (40) for lifting the bottles (5) to a height at least equal to that Depth of this recess is. 3. Filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fork (37) and the Wall (38) are connected to the movable carrier (12) via two links (46), one of which can be actuated by the fixed cam. 4. Filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fork (37) and the Wall (38) are mounted in an inclined slide rail (50) actuated by the fixed cam (53) and via a second roller (49) against a cam lifting the slide rail in an inclined position (48). 5. Filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the introduction (2) and the discharge device (3) are horizontal with respect to one another of the valve (22) follow the offset path, and that the discharge device (3) has a capsule device (42) for screw caps, which is arranged above this and is designed so that the bottle (5) as soon as it is on the discharge device, is closed.